Column: A Taste of Hendersonville

More than 325 people attended the 10th annual Taste of Hendersonville at Blue Ridge Community College Tuesday.

Fran Caldwell/For the Times-News

By Fran Caldwell

Published: Wednesday, October 2, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at 11:09 p.m.

Mellow jazz floated through the air and mingled with the mouthwatering aromas of gourmet specialties of every flavor.

More than 325 people attended the 10th annual Taste of Hendersonville at Blue Ridge Community College Tuesday. Twenty of the area's finest restaurants donated their time, talent and food to make this an extraordinary event which benefits the Interfaith Assistance Ministry.

Music was provided by the Uptown Jazz Quintet.

“This is the most fun night of the year. Due to the generous outpouring of support for this event, we hope to raise over $100,000 tonight," said Lynn Pope, chair of the event. "This will be used to assist local people who need it. We work hard to show compassion to the members of the community we serve and to treat everyone with dignity.”

IAM is a volunteer-driven organization. More than 300 volunteers donate their time to accomplish the mission of IAM.

This mission is to provide emergency relief to Henderson County residents who are in financial crisis by offering food, clothing, funds, guidance and referral.

Last year, 8,594 individuals received food, 4,228 received clothing, and 597 families received heating or utilities assistance. More than 240 families received rent or mortgage assistance, 104 people received crisis prescription assistance and 628 children received school supplies.

Forty IAM volunteers were on hand to help at this annual fundraiser. Besides the 20 local restaurants that donated food, there were 58 items donated by local businesses for the silent auction. Local businesses also donated 14 items, which were raffled off.

The generosity of the Hendersonville community is striking. Since 1984, Interfaith Assistance Ministries has been the channel through which this generosity provides a “hand up” to those who need it most.

<p>Mellow jazz floated through the air and mingled with the mouthwatering aromas of gourmet specialties of every flavor. </p><p>More than 325 people attended the 10th annual Taste of Hendersonville at Blue Ridge Community College Tuesday. Twenty of the area's finest restaurants donated their time, talent and food to make this an extraordinary event which benefits the Interfaith Assistance Ministry.</p><p>Music was provided by the Uptown Jazz Quintet.</p><p>“This is the most fun night of the year. Due to the generous outpouring of support for this event, we hope to raise over $100,000 tonight," said Lynn Pope, chair of the event. "This will be used to assist local people who need it. We work hard to show compassion to the members of the community we serve and to treat everyone with dignity.”</p><p>IAM is a volunteer-driven organization. More than 300 volunteers donate their time to accomplish the mission of IAM. </p><p>This mission is to provide emergency relief to Henderson County residents who are in financial crisis by offering food, clothing, funds, guidance and referral. </p><p>Last year, 8,594 individuals received food, 4,228 received clothing, and 597 families received heating or utilities assistance. More than 240 families received rent or mortgage assistance, 104 people received crisis prescription assistance and 628 children received school supplies.</p><p>Forty IAM volunteers were on hand to help at this annual fundraiser. Besides the 20 local restaurants that donated food, there were 58 items donated by local businesses for the silent auction. Local businesses also donated 14 items, which were raffled off.</p><p>The generosity of the Hendersonville community is striking. Since 1984, Interfaith Assistance Ministries has been the channel through which this generosity provides a “hand up” to those who need it most.</p>